InvertedPossession

Showing Commas
The most important rule in punctuating direct speech is that all words spoken must
be enclosed by inverted commas.

In British English, a single inverted comma can be used.

E.g. ‘Get off my bridge.’

You can also use a double inverted comma.

E.g. “Get off my bridge.”

Whichever style you choose, use it consistently across a text.

 Punctuation Inside Inverted
Commas
All commas, full stops, question marks and exclamation marks must be
enclosed by inverted commas.

For example:

“That grass looks delicious,” said the smallest Billy Goat Gruff.

“Hey, goat!” shouted the troll. “You are not allowed to cross my bridge”

‘How can we get to the other side?” asked the Biggest Goat Gruff.

NOT: “Get off my bridge” ! shouted the troll.

 Commas
Showing Possession
Commas are another important tool to help the reader separate direct speech
from the rest of the text.

Where direct speech precedes a verb, and does not end in a question mark
or exclamation mark, a comma must be used.

For example:

“We need to get to the other side,” moaned the goats.

“Those goats are always disturbing my sleep,” muttered the troll.

 Commas
Showing Possession
Where the direct speech before a verb ends in a question mark or
exclamation mark however, this punctuation replaces the comma.

For example:

“Who goes there ?” shouted the troll.

NOT:

“Who goes there ?,” shouted the troll.

 Commas
Showing Possession
Where the direct speech follows a verb, a comma must be used after the
verb to indicate that direct speech is about to begin.

Note: in this context, the direct speech must always begin with a capital
letter.

For example:

The smallest Billy Goat Gruff said, “I’ll go first”

The Troll shouted, “Who goes there?”

The biggest Billy Goat Gruff shouted, “Oh no you won’t”

 Punctuation
ShowingInside Inverted
Possession
Commas
In addition, where the direct speech follows the verb, a full stop,
exclamation mark or question mark must be used inside the inverted
commas to signal the end of the speech.

For example:

The smallest Billy Goat Gruff said, “I’ll go first.”

The Troll shouted, “Who goes there?”

The biggest goat shouted, “Oh no you won’t!”

 Punctuating ‘Split’ Direct
Showing Possession
Speech
If the direct speech is one sentence broken up by information about who is
speaking, you need a comma (or a question mark or exclamation mark) to
end the first piece of speech and another comma before the concluding
part of the sentence (before the inverted comma or commas).

For example:

‘I’m light and quiet,” said the smallest Billy Goat Gruff, “so I’ll go first.”

In this context, use a lower case letter to start the second part of the
direct speech.
 Punctuating ‘Split’ Direct
Showing Possession
Speech
If the direct speech is two discreet sentences separated by information about
who is speaking, you need a comma (or a question mark or exclamation
mark) to end the first piece of speech and full stop after the information
about the speaker. The second sentence then begins with a capital letter.

For example:

“You’re right,” agreed the Biggest Billy Goat Gruff. “We can’t let the
Troll beat us.”